An honorary doctorate is traditionally not used in front of a recipient's name. Mr X Dr(Hons) would not therefore be referred to as "Dr X" unless he already had a separate doctorate acquired by research and a consequent thesis.
The honorary degree system is used to honour those who have achieved eminence in their pursuit other than by academic means. It is not uncommon for well-known actors, musicians and others who have been around a long time and are pretty well at the top of the tree to receive honorary doctorates.
Of course, there are unrecognised "institutions" in some countries that exists for the purpose of awarding a graduate or post-graduate degree "qualification" solely on receipt of an appropriate sum of money. However, in some countries, if such a recipient uses that "degree" to further his or her professional career or to gain monetary advantage then trouble will loom.
"has also been very supportive of human rights issues throughout the island of Ireland."
Who writes this stuff?
I think he deserves everything he gets, ridiculous or not. If it wasn't for him I doubt I'd be playing any music at all. He should probably get a professorship.
You're right, lazyhound, but it doesn't stop people from using the honorific. I've known people with (only) honorary degrees who called themselves "Doctor ..." and they really didn't know any better.
Actually, I'm in the camp that would rather reserve that title for physicians, and let academics only use it in an academic context. It's appropriate in the classroom but to introduce yourself as "Doctor" when you have a PhD is ambiguous at best. It's just meaningless outside of a university.
Anyway...Robert Redford? What the hell does he have to do with Ireland?
Actually, if you get to the top of your tree as a physician, you receive the honour of being able to refer to yourself and others refer to you as Mister, instead of Doctor. I was operated on once by a Mister. It was most reassuring.
It comes from The Enlightenment period in Edinburgh, where you went to your Doctor for pills and remedies etc ... doctors were widely regarded as mere quacks. But if there was anything seriously wrong with you where you needed to go under the knife, you'd go to the Barber, who was a mere Mr.
That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
Robert Who?
Trinity College knows how to select its honorary degree recipients:
http://www.tcd.ie/Communications/news.php?headerID=954&vs_date=2008-7-1
# Posted on July 12th 2008 by Jams O'Donnell
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
For what exactly.....strumming in the background!!
# Posted on July 12th 2008 by Free Reed
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
An honorary doctorate is traditionally not used in front of a recipient's name. Mr X Dr(Hons) would not therefore be referred to as "Dr X" unless he already had a separate doctorate acquired by research and a consequent thesis.
The honorary degree system is used to honour those who have achieved eminence in their pursuit other than by academic means. It is not uncommon for well-known actors, musicians and others who have been around a long time and are pretty well at the top of the tree to receive honorary doctorates.
Of course, there are unrecognised "institutions" in some countries that exists for the purpose of awarding a graduate or post-graduate degree "qualification" solely on receipt of an appropriate sum of money. However, in some countries, if such a recipient uses that "degree" to further his or her professional career or to gain monetary advantage then trouble will loom.
# Posted on July 12th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
"has also been very supportive of human rights issues throughout the island of Ireland."
Who writes this stuff?
I think he deserves everything he gets, ridiculous or not. If it wasn't for him I doubt I'd be playing any music at all. He should probably get a professorship.
# Posted on July 12th 2008 by pavlf
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
"Who writes this stuff? "
Why do you ask? Do you have evidence that the statement you are referring to, presumably written by the public relations service of TCD, is wrong?
# Posted on July 12th 2008 by de Selby
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
You're right, lazyhound, but it doesn't stop people from using the honorific. I've known people with (only) honorary degrees who called themselves "Doctor ..." and they really didn't know any better.
Actually, I'm in the camp that would rather reserve that title for physicians, and let academics only use it in an academic context. It's appropriate in the classroom but to introduce yourself as "Doctor" when you have a PhD is ambiguous at best. It's just meaningless outside of a university.
Anyway...Robert Redford? What the hell does he have to do with Ireland?
# Posted on July 12th 2008 by Marklar
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
"Actually, I'm in the camp that would rather reserve that title for physicians, and let academics only use it in an academic context."
There's a camp for that?
# Posted on July 13th 2008 by Upsetter
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
Yes, actually. For instance, by tradition people who have PhDs from the University of Virginia don't use the honorific.
# Posted on July 13th 2008 by Marklar
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
Perhaps they use the soporific. If they're sophomores, that is.
# Posted on July 13th 2008 by nicholas
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
And if they're virgins.
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by de Selby
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
Actually, if you get to the top of your tree as a physician, you receive the honour of being able to refer to yourself and others refer to you as Mister, instead of Doctor. I was operated on once by a Mister. It was most reassuring.
It comes from The Enlightenment period in Edinburgh, where you went to your Doctor for pills and remedies etc ... doctors were widely regarded as mere quacks. But if there was anything seriously wrong with you where you needed to go under the knife, you'd go to the Barber, who was a mere Mr.
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
....and you don't need a doctorate to qualify as a doctor (of the stethoscope-wielding kind) - just a Bachelor of Medicine.
Thanks, Michael G, for that bit of enlightenment, by the way. I had always wondered about that.
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by granama
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
Receptionist: "I'm sorry Mr Gill, Dr Jeckyll isn't available today. Would you like me to make you an appointment with Mister Hyde? "
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by de Selby
Re: That's DOCTOR Lunny, now!
Calling surgeons "mister" has an interesting history:
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/181_01_050704/whe10281_fm.html
You might consider coming to Canada if you want any more surgery done. We don't let barbers do it, and we refer to them as "Doctor."
# Posted on July 14th 2008 by grego